The One

Chapter 18

Gulf struggled to open his eyes, greeted by a hazy image. The glaring sunlight forced him to shut them tightly, causing a sharp pain in his head. Groaning, he realized it was the aftermath of the previous night—a brutal hangover.

After some effort, Gulf managed to open his eyes again, only to find himself in an unfamiliar room. The white curtains flowed gracefully as the sea breeze flowed in. A magnificent wooden bed adorned with intricate carvings stood against the wall, complementing the creamy neutral shades that washed over the room. In the corner, an antique mirror with finely crafted frames added to the luxurious ambiance. The room even opened up to a small private pool, exuding opulence.

"Are you awake already?" a familiar face spoke to Gulf, although he struggled to place the person. It took him a while to realize it was Kao, the stranger who had helped him the day before.

"Where am I?" Gulf strained to recollect his memories.

"Relax. You were too drunk, so I brought you back to my place. How are you feeling?" Kao reassured him.

"I want to go home," Gulf hesitated.

"Sure. Your car is still in the garage, so I can give you a ride. However, I would suggest having some food first. You slept for quite a while, and it's already late afternoon." Gulf's hunger became apparent, and he reluctantly agreed.

The dining table was adorned with a wide variety ranging from Thai to Italian to Middle Eastern cuisines. Every aspect of this man's presence screamed luxury. Gulf began to eat, skeptical about the man sitting across him.

"Where exactly are we?" Gulf asked, attempting to sound nonchalant.

"Paradise," Kao replied with a smile.

Gulf forced a smile in return. "Are you finding it hard to trust me, Gulf?" Kao inquired.

Gulf choked on his orange juice, coughing vigorously.
"Relax. Last night, you opened up to me about you and Mew. I understand the pain you're going through, Gulf. And I want you to know that you can always count on me as a friend whenever you feel down."

Gulf nodded hesitantly. Kao dropped Gulf off at his condominium.

Gulf, feeling exhausted, found a glimmer of energy thanks to Kao, which gave him the strength to confront Mew. Taking a deep breath, Gulf stood at the door and rang the bell, hoping Mew would be there.

To Gulf's surprise, the door swung open almost instantly, revealing a horrified Mew. Their eyes met, Gulf bewildered by Mew's distressed appearance, while Mew, had a mix of relief and anger. It had been more than 24 hours and Mew was worried sick. Without hesitation, Mew grabbed Gulf by the collar and forcefully pressed him against the wall.

"Where the hell were you?" Mew snarled, his anger evident.

Gulf, feeling deeply offended by Mew's aggressive behavior, furrowed his brow and squirmed, attempting to break free from Mew's grip.

"Mew!" Mew's father intervened abruptly, commanding him to release Gulf immediately. It was at that moment that Gulf realized Mew's parents were also present at home.

However, Mew's anger prevented him from heeding his father's words. In a fit of rage, Mew's father slapped him, causing Mew to stumble backward.

"Father!" Gulf stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Mew.

Mew's mother tried to calm her husband, reminding him that the issue was between husbands, and that Gulf had safely returned home, urging him not to interfere. Gulf supported her stance, and eventually, Mr. and Mrs. Joncheveevat reluctantly left, leaving Mew and Gulf alone.

"Do you have any idea how scared I was?! You disappeared without a trace for 24 hours, despite promising me that you would always go out with a bodyguard. We searched everywhere for you. Why couldn't you at least inform me?"

"I'm sorry. I was drinking with a friend. I'll inform you next time," Gulf apologized half-heartedly, while taking a painkiller and retreating to his room to sleep.

"Sorry?! Is that all you have to say? I've contacted all your friends! Which friend is this?"

"You don't know him, okay? What else do you want me to say? I'm tired. I want to rest. Can we talk later?" Gulf went to bed without acknowledging Mew any further.

Mew clenched his fist and punched the wall, causing a slight bruise. He looked at Gulf's sleeping face, exhaustion evident from his gentle snores. Despite everything, Mew was immensely grateful that Gulf had returned home safely. The past 24 hours had been hell for him. He had wreaked havoc, searching desperately for Gulf. It was during this time that Mew realized the depth of his feelings for Gulf. He couldn't function without him, as Gulf had become his life, his soul, his everything. Mew crawled into bed and held Gulf tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"You have no idea what you mean to me, love. I felt like I died a hundred deaths while you were missing. Please, stop hurting me like this, Gulf. I can't survive without you," Mew whispered to Gulf, who remained sound asleep.

They never discussed those 24 hours with each other again. Gulf distanced himself from Mew, while Mew imposed numerous restrictions on Gulf. He monitored him at home, at university, during casual meetings with friends. Gulf's bodyguard provided constant updates to Mew, ranging from his whereabouts to what he ate and did. If Gulf wanted to go out, he had to inform Mew in advance, and Mew would thoroughly investigate every person Gulf encountered.

Even when Kao casually dropped by their home to return a car, Mew and Gulf had another argument. Kao was perhaps the only source of relief for Gulf, temporarily helping him forget the suffocating atmosphere that had engulfed him.

"You know, I have the power to rescue you from this chaotic situation. Just come along with me," Kao calmly remarked while relaxing at the club with Gulf. Lately, Gulf found himself seeking solace with Kao more frequently whenever he felt overwhelmed. For a moment there, Gulf even considered Kao's offer but he was already in too deep with Mew. No matter how Mew treated him, he could not fathom leaving Mew. Was it okay to be in such a toxic relationship? He missed his P'Mew. The one before the marriage. Marriage had ruined their relationship. But P'Mew was all he had now.

"I need to head home. It's already too late," Gulf declared, and his two bodyguards promptly followed him.

AN: Hello all! Hope you all are doing great. Thank you for your votes and encouragement. ☺️☺️